Josh Willingham wins Silver Slugger

Twins outfielder Josh Willingham joined Mike Trout and Josh Hamilton as the three American League outfielders to win Silver Slugger Awards for 2012. Very well deserved, and congratulations to him! (have to assume Mauer will win at catcher in the AL as well)

Twins outfielder Josh Willingham joined Mike Trout and Josh Hamilton as the three American League outfielders to win Silver Slugger Awards for 2012. Very well deserved, and congratulations to him! (have to assume Mauer will win at catcher in the AL as well)

Ridiculous and bizarre. I don't know if Mauer got penalized for not catching enough games or the Twins bad record. Or maybe they remembered AJ's strong start while not noticing how badly he tailed off over the last quarter of the season.

But it's hard to justify. AJ had a nice year, but it wasn't THAT great. Mauer was better in every statistical category except home runs. Some by a lot. AJ drew 28 walks. Only 10 other players with at least 500 PA's drew fewer.

Mauer played less than 1/2 of the season's games at catcher (74 at C; 72 at DH & 1B).

Based on that, its NOT hard at all for anyone living outside of Minnesota to justify leaving him off.

Oh, so that's how it is. Herbert Hoover was the presiding president when the United States fell into the Great Depression - it was all his fault. Bob Feller is um, uh... um, uh... overrated and Slip Knot is one of the worst music groups to ever exist.

Not a bad honor for Mr. Willingham. It's certainly not bad compensation for having missed out on an All-Star game appearance. If he has a similar year next year, I have to think he'll get that first All-Star game call.

as the sliver slugger is voted on by coaches and managers from both leagues, and voters are prohibited from rewarding players on their own team...... it is interesting that AJ, even with all the hate that some folks have for him, gets the votes of his peers here! good for AJ. after all....... to be called a slugger, it is not about walks and singles, but home runs. home runs = slugger. that is probably why the hammer won, too. alas....... joe may have had a more impressive year in many categories, but he didn't catch that much, and he doesn't/didn't hit the dingers.

as the sliver slugger is voted on by coaches and managers from both leagues, and voters are prohibited from rewarding players on their own team...... it is interesting that AJ, even with all the hate that some folks have for him, gets the votes of his peers here! good for AJ. after all....... to be called a slugger, it is not about walks and singles, but home runs. home runs = slugger. that is probably why the hammer won, too. alas....... joe may have had a more impressive year in many categories, but he didn't catch that much, and he doesn't/didn't hit the dingers.

---The name notwithstanding, Silver Sluggers are awarded to the best offensive player at each position. If coaches and managers are voting based on home runs, then they're doing it wrong. And Ichiro shouldn't have won any. If it were just about home runs, there would be no need to vote, the guy with the most HR's at each position would automatically get it.

If it's about games caught, that's fine, I can understand that. That leads to the conclusion that Mauer, or any other guy who spends a lot of time at multiple positions, can't be considered at all no matter how good he is offensively. And it would not have been entirely unprecedented to give it to him. Guys like Giambi and Vlad G. won them for positions in years they spend a lot of time DH'ing. But it's a valid point.

But the idea that AJ deserved it over Mauer because he hit more HR's, even though Mauer had him beat in every other offensive category is silly.

as the sliver slugger is voted on by coaches and managers from both leagues, and voters are prohibited from rewarding players on their own team...... it is interesting that AJ, even with all the hate that some folks have for him, gets the votes of his peers here! good for AJ. after all....... to be called a slugger, it is not about walks and singles, but home runs. home runs = slugger. that is probably why the hammer won, too. alas....... joe may have had a more impressive year in many categories, but he didn't catch that much, and he doesn't/didn't hit the dingers.

---The name notwithstanding, Silver Sluggers are awarded to the best offensive player at each position. If coaches and managers are voting based on home runs, then they're doing it wrong. And Ichiro shouldn't have won any. If it were just about home runs, there would be no need to vote, the guy with the most HR's at each position would automatically get it.

If it's about games caught, that's fine, I can understand that. That leads to the conclusion that Mauer, or any other guy who spends a lot of time at multiple positions, can't be considered at all no matter how good he is offensively. And it would not have been entirely unprecedented to give it to him. Guys like Giambi and Vlad G. won them for positions in years they spend a lot of time DH'ing. But it's a valid point.

But the idea that AJ deserved it over Mauer because he hit more HR's, even though Mauer had him beat in every other offensive category is silly.

gold gloves are often hard to understand as well. personally, i would have voted for mauer (or maybe i can't because i am a twins fan ;-/) on the voting wrong part - you certainly make a good point, but need to take that up with the players and managers of both leagues that get to vote. apparently, home runs did mean something to them this year. it had to be more than just games caught, i would think.